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MASSERIA LI VELI

PUGLIA

MASSERIA LI VELI

PUGLIA



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ABOUT THE WINERY

Puglia has a long agrarian history, thanks to its relatively high proportion of flat or rolling terrain suitable for growing crops. For many centuries, Puglia’s agriculture was dominated by extensive land grants from the ruling nobility. Known as latifundi, these holdings were the equivalent of plantations or haciendas in other countries, often controlled by absentee landowners and worked by local peasants and sharecroppers. Beginning in the 16th century in Puglia, many of these latifundi began to build structures known as masserie. The masseria was sort of a cross between a castle and a farmhouse and was designed to improve the life of the farmworkers. It was typically a large stone building located in or near the fields of the latifundo with room for the managers and many of the farmworkers to sleep and for storage of equipment and harvests. It was also intended to be strong enough to protect the inhabitants from raids by pirates, bandits, and marauding soldiers. 

The latifundi began to be broken up during the period of Napoleonic rule in Italy at the end of the 1700s and early 1800s, and the essentially feudal system that they represented was outlawed in 1950. By that time, most of the masserias had fallen into disrepair. One such ruin was Masseria Li Veli, located near the center of the Salento Peninsula in southern Puglia, on the southern slopes of the Murgia plateau. Many masserias have been reconstructed as residences or agritourism accommodations beginning in the 1970s, but this particular one was rebuilt much earlier for a different purpose. 

The crumbling Masseria Li Veli was acquired in the late 19th century by Marchese Antonio de Viti de Marco (1858–1943), an important economist and professor who was influential in the theory of public finance in the Kingdom of Italy. In 1895, the masseria was restored to serve as a model wine cellar, demonstrating an ambitious concept for economic development for all of southern Italy. It stayed in operation until the 1950s. 

The masseria is once again functioning as an important winemaking facility, having been renovated and modernized into an up-to-date production center for the Li Veli wines. The Falvo family, former owners of the Avignonesi winery in Tuscany but with Puglian roots, purchased the masseria and its 128 acres of land in 1999 and breathed new life into de Viti de Marco’s project. The vision is to establish a new quality benchmark in the region, through both vineyard management and vinification.

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WINERY LOCATION: Cellino San Marco (Brindisi province), Puglia
REGION: Salice Salentino DOC, IGT Puglia, IGT Salento, IGT Valle d’itria
VINEYARD LAND: 82 acres (33 ha)
FARMING PRACTICES: Sustainable
GRAPE VARIETIES: Negroamaro, Primitivo, Susumaniello, Malvasia Neri di Lecce, Aleatico, Cabernet Sauvignon, Verdeca and Minutolo
WINE STYLES: Dry red; dry rosato; dry white; sweet dessert
TOTAL WINE PRODUCTION: 350,000 bottles (260,000 liters)
YEAR FOUNDED: 1999
OWNER(S): The Falvo family
WINEMAKER(S): Riccardo Cotarella

WINES

MASSERIA LI VELI "TORREMOSSA" FIANO SALENTO IGT

Fiano is a grape variety typically associated with Campania on the other side of the Apennines from Puglia, but Puglia’s plantings of Fiano have been increasing, and the variety seems well suited to this region. Li Veli makes this Fiano as one of its two white-wine offerings.

MASSERIA LI VELI “SYBAR” NEGROAMARO ROSÉ SALENTO IGT

Negroamaro rosé is a classic of the Apulian wine-making tradition: this variety has the uniqueness of giving the wine not only an exceptional colour but also fresh, fruity notes and a certain mineral fragrance that enhances the complexity of the wine. This new wine from Li Veli is named "Sybar" which is the ancient name of the city of Lecce, dating back to the 13th century BC.

MASSERIA LI VELI “TORREROSE” PRIMITIVO ROSATO SALENTO IGT

Masseria Li Veli Torrerose Primitvo Rosato is the second wine in the Torrerose line. This wine is made from Primitivo grapes, a grape that got a boost in recognition when it was found to be a forerunner to Zinfandel. Primitivo is widely planted throughout Puglia and is well-suited to making a Rosè wine.  

MASSERIA LI VELI “ORION” PRIMITIVO SALENTO IGT

While Masseria Li Veli focuses much of its attention on Negroamaro, Orion is dedicated to the other important grape variety of the Salento Peninsula: Primitivo. The Italian alter ego of Croatia’s Tribidrag and California’s Zinfandel, Primitivo has been grown in Puglia for centuries and is gaining newfound recognition in Italy. The wine’s name, Orion, is not related to the constellation, but rather to an ancient wall. Orion means “limit” or “boundary” in Greek, and a wall that once served as the boundary of Salento when this was a Greek colony is today a country road that runs alongside Li Veli’s Primitivo vineyard.

MASSERIA LI VELI “PRIMONERO” NEGROAMARO SALENTO IGT

Salento peninsula has always been a great wine producing area of Italy and a land of crossing cultures. Primonero was born from the heart of this land with its most representative grape: Negroamaro, whose name emphasizes the dark colour of its fruit: niger from the Latin “black” and amauros from the Greek “dark”. In memory of Greeks and Romans, the two main cultures dominating and crossing each other in this region.

MASSERIA LI VELI “PASSAMANTE” SALICE SALENTINO DOC

Passamante is Masseria Li Veli’s entry Salice Salentino, the Negroamaro-based wine that defines the Salento Peninsula. Though no oak aging is required for non-riserva Salice Salentino wines, Li Veli gives Passamante 6 months in barriques to round out the wine and introduce additional complexity. Passamante is the name of the wooded area next to the vineyard.

MASSERIA LI VELI “ASKOS” VERDECA SALENTO IGT

Masseria Li Veli features little-known native grape varieties of Puglia in its Askos line. Verdeca is the white entry in this line. Not much Verdeca is grown in Puglia, and almost none outside the region, so it’s exciting to see a varietal Verdeca wine like this one from Li Veli. Askos is a Greek word for a type of wine container, harkening back to the pre-Roman days when the Ancient Greeks colonized Puglia and produced wine here—perhaps from Verdeca.

MASSERIA LI VELI “ASKOS” SUSUMANIELLO ROSATO SALENTO IGT

Masseria Li Veli features little-known native grape varieties of Puglia in its Askos line. With just 125 acres (50 ha) in all of Italy, Susumaniello certainly fits in that category. Li Veli’s varietal Susumaniellos are a rare opportunity to taste this ancient grape variety that is just starting to garner attention. This wine is a pink version, essentially a white wine made with red Susumaniello grapes.

MASSERIA LI VELI “ASKOS” SUSUMANIELLO SALENTO IGT

Masseria Li Veli features little-known native grape varieties of Puglia in its Askos line. With just 125 acres (50 ha) in all of Italy, Susumaniello certainly fits in that category. Li Veli’s varietal Susumaniellos are a rare opportunity to taste this ancient grape variety that is just starting to garner attention.

MASSERIA LI VELI “ASKOS” PRIMITIVO SALENTO IGT

Li Veli features native grape varieties of Puglia in its Askos line. Primitivo is now well known, but it remains in the shadow of Negroamaro and several other Italian grape varieties, so Li Veli includes it in this project.

MASSERIA LI VELI “PEZZO MORGANA” SALICE SALENTINO RISERVA DOC

Masseria Li Veli Pezzo Morgana is a single-vineyard Negroamaro from the Salice Salentino denomination. The vineyard is planted using the ancient Settonce system based on hexagonal distribution rather than rows. It is bordered by olive trees and dry-stone walls. The Pezzo Morgana is a Riserva produced from a careful selection from the vineyard. 

MASSERIA LI VELI “MLV” SALENTO IGT

Masseria Li Veli's MLV is their top label wine and is dedicated to the noble founder of the original Masseria - the Marchese Antonio De Viti De Marco (1858-1943). With the 2020 vintage, the wine combines two high-end Salento Primitivo vineyards from on the estate into one wine, creating our ideal expression of Salento Primitivo.  Fruit from the Montecoco vineyard, just south of the winery and Primitivo and Cabernet from the Veli vineyard – the oldest of the estate.  The wine is fermented in 50L oak cask, with malolactic carried out in barrique.

LOCATION


WINERY:
Cellino San Marco (Brindisi province), Puglia

VINEYARD:
Salento peninsula, Puglia

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NEWS AND REVIEWS FROM OUR FRIENDS IN THE INDUSTRY



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90
APRIL 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Askos” Verdeca Salento IGT 2023

The 2023 Verdeca Askos presents an inviting bouquet of honeyed florals, mango and mint. This is opulent yet balanced with ripe orchard fruits, enriching hints of raw almond and a tinge of tropical citrus. Spicy and long, the 2023 leaves behind a lemony concentration and green melon nuances.

91
OCTOBER 2024
Masseria Li Veli “Orion” Primitivo Salento IGT 2023

BEST BUY.  The nose is simultaneously weighty, fresh and elegant, with aromas of black cherry, blackberry and dark chocolate, along with undertones of orange peel and stone. All of those notes reappear on a palate which is bitter, but friendly, as acid soars overhead.

92
MARCH 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Orion” Primitivo Salento IGT 2023

The 2023 Primitivo Orion opens in the glass with dusty blackcurrants, exotic spices, crushed chalk and violets. It envelops the palate with silken textures, ripe wild berry fruits and a contrasting tinge of sour citrus as licorice nuances saturate toward the close. The 2023 finishes lightly structured and admirably long, leaving behind hints of sour cherry and a pleasant chewiness. Masseria Li Veli overdelivers with this balanced Primitivo.

90
MARCH 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Sybar” Negroamaro Rosé Salento IGT 2023

The 2023 Negroamaro Rosato Sybar blossoms in the glass with a pretty blend of nectarine, lemon zest and white smoke. This is soothingly round and supple with lovely depth. Ripe pit fruits swirl beneath tropical inner florals, and a hint of sour melon resonates as the 2023 tapers off fresh and minty.

93
MARCH 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Pezzo Morgana” Salice Salentino Riserva DOC 2021

A rich blend of plum sauce, dark chocolate and sage introduces the 2021 Negroamaro Pezzo Morgana. A core of zesty acidity elevates ripe wild berry fruits as rosy inner florals and a hint of blood orange embellish the close. Fine tannins coat the senses through the long, staining and youthfully tense finish.

92+
MARCH 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Askos” Susumaniello Salento IGT 2023

The dusty and floral 2023 Susumaniello Askos offers a refined bouquet of crushed blackberries, incense and exotic spice. Silky and round, its core of tactile minerals adds form toward the close. The 2023 finishes structured and long, leaving a coating of fine tannins and a lingering resonance of polished wild berry fruit. This could use some time in the cellar to come fully into focus, but it shows the complexity that Susumaniello can deliver.

91
MARCH 2025
Masseria Li Veli “Passamante” Salice Salentino DOC 2023

The 2023 Salice Salentino Passamante is dark and brooding, with a dusty bouquet of minty herbs, dried roses and crushed blackberries. It’s silky smooth, ripe and balanced, with cool-toned acidity guiding sweet red and blue fruits. A tinge of licorice meets violet pastille as the 2023 finishes with admirable length and gentle tannins.